Be Free -Pretty Things Survivors Do Blog Hop!

Posted on: December 7, 2018 Posted by: Ana Comments: 75

Welcome to my page! If you are part of the blog hop you are here from Tania Ahmed’s blog!

About This Project

A couple months back my friend Salima Rivas asked me if I would be part of her blog hop to create awareness for PTSD, I felt honored. Her vision for this blog hop is to show how art and creativity can be a healing medium for PTSD Sufferers. She chose the name #PrettyThingsSurvivorsDo to incorporate how art and being creative can be a therapeutic experience for some.

Part of the journey for me in this project was finding out more about PTSD, and I was surprised on how much I did not know about the subject. Before I get to the Card tutorial, I just want to give you a few facts (adaa.org):

  • PTSD- Post Tracumatic Stress Disorder: is a serious potentially debilitating condition that can occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a natural disaster, serious accident, terrorist incident, sudden death of a loved one, war, violent personal assault such as rape, or other life-threatening events

  • Women are twice as likely to develop PTSD, children can also develop it
  • 7.7 million Americans age 18 and older have PTSD.
  • Symptoms: chronic distressing intrusive memories, feeling emotionally numb, guilt, anger insomnia, jumpiness.
  • Treatement:  cognitive behavioral therapy, medications, relaxation techniques.

My Wish is that we are all aware there are people around us everyday who might be suffering from this disorder. Life can be very difficult for them, specially during the holiday season. Please be kind to one another, we do not know what each person is dealing with in their personal lives.

Can Art Help the Healing?

there is some evidence that art therapy may help to reconnect feeling (implicit memories) with thinking (explicit memories), a process that may reduce posttraumatic stress reactions (Malchiodi, 2003; Steele & Raider, 2001).

Finding Help
Visit ADAA at www.adaa.org to find qualified mental health
professionals in the Find a Therapist directory.
Suffering from PTSD can interfere with your life. ADAA
provides resources that will help you and your loved
ones better understand your condition, connect you
with a community of people who know what you
are experiencing, and help you locate mental health
professionals in your area.

BE FREE!

I wanted to touch upon the fact that many people who suffer from PTSD, have a great deal of anger, frustrations, guilt, self-blame, all as a result of the traumatic experience they have gone through. Part of getting better, and moving on to a happier and healthier life is to free oneself from these feelings. But how? By proper medical guidance and the use of any or all of the methods listed above. Everyone has the right to BE FREE of negative feelings and be able to prosper and grow, and experience the goodness that still exists.

With my card I used the trapped butterfly in the background as a symbol of breaking FREE and transforming into a radiant being and flying off moving forward with a positive outlook.

Here is how I made my card:

Supplies:

(affiliate links, thank you for shopping through my links and supporting my blog!)

Directions

Step 1- Using an alcohol friendly ink (Gina K Amalgan used here) stamp the Craze image in three different panels measuring 4.25×5.5″. 

Step 2 – Use one stamped panel to die cut the letters to form the words “Be Free” using the Altenew Cap Bold Alphabet Die set out of one of those panels just stamped.

Step 3 – On the second stamped panel, use the Butterfly die cuts to cut out 4 butterflies using the shape of butterfly die (not the ones with details on it.) Now using white cardstock, die cut using the matching “details” die for that shape you just cut. ( You will only use 2 butterfly sets for this project but I suggest to cut an extra set in case you need extras for any reason)

Now you should have 4 butterfly outlines, 4 butterfly details, and the letters for the sentiment

Step 4- Using black ink, ink edges of the remaining stamped panel, ink edges of all the letters, and the butterfly outlines (not the cutouts with all the details.) Also, create a shadow under where each letter and butterfly will be placed. 

Step 5- Color both detailed cutouts with copic markers as desired. Make one of the butterflies very bright color, and the second one more muted tones.

Step 6- Use foam tape to adhere each letter to the panel, use liquid glue to adhere the muted butterfly and background straight to the panel as well. For the second butterfly, glue down the butterfly shape to the panel just by it’s center using foam squares, leaving the wings off panel to be able to pull them out to give it more dimension. Now adhere the detailed part of the second butterfly just by the body to the butterfly shape, and curl up the wings to give it more dimension (as if butterfly is coming off the page) Add wink of Stella clear on top of both butterflies.

Step 7- Using liquid glue, adhere slightly larger black panel to the top panel, then glue these two on top of the Teal colored A2 cardbase horizontal fold,

Step 8- Add the flat back clear drops using glaze. Place them randomly around butterflies.

Step 9- Sponge more black ink if needed on glued down butterfly to mute colors a little more.

Watch Video Tutorial Here:

Here is the complete list for the Blog Hop:

  1. Sandy Allnock
  2. Josefine Fouarge
  3. Rubeena Ianigro
  4. Leigh O’Hara Houston
  5. Mamie Carson Wadsworth
  6. Tania Ahmed
  7. Ana Reese <<< You are Here
  8. Tracy Freeman
  9. Amy Tsuruta
  10. Tracie Pond
  11. Sharna Waksmulski
  12. Alix Davis
  13. Janette Kausen
  14. Mayra Duran Hernandez
  15. Kimberly Wiener
  16. Seeka
  17. Joanne Maree Soukup
  18. Crissy Salima Smith

 

 

 

75 People reacted on this

  4. This is one of my favorite cards today for so many reasons! I love the visual metaphor of the butterflies breaking out of cracked stone, with the sentiment BE FREE! It’s so fitting and beautiful! Thanks so much for being a part of this hop today!

    1. Thank you so very much, I am happy to hear the message in my card is resonating with many! I appreciate you for being part of this blog hop!

    1. Thank you Debbie, I am happy to hear the message I intended with my project is being welcomed by many. Thank you for visiting today!

  6. I absolutely love this card. Butterflies are one of my favorite and think they represent freedom as well.

    1. Thank you Monica! Butterflies have always been my favorite! I am glad to hear you like my card. Thank you for being part of this blog hop!

  7. I suffer from PTSD badly so I am so appreciative of this amazing blog hop! Thank you so much for bringing awareness to it. I will remember to also reach out to others who are suffering and could use some kindness including you. And thank you for sharing your lovely art. . xo Andrea

    1. Thank you Andrea for your lovely comment. It has been a wonderful experience to be able to be part of this important blog hop. I hope it continues to bring hope, and comfort to many as well as much needed awareness. My Love to you and I wish you the best. Thanks for being here!

  8. Thank you so much for sharing. What a great picture in your card of breaking from those negative feelings.

    1. Thank you Leanna for your comment! It is a great visual for what many of us should strive for. Thank you for visiting my page!

    1. Thank you Sharon! I am glad that my sentiment on this card resonates with many! Thanks for being part of this blog hop!

    1. thank you very much! I am happy it has brought a little bit of happiness to some people today! Thank you for being here!

    1. Thank you so much! It is such an amazing hop, the messages in all the posts are beautiful and I am so honored to be part of it. Thank you for visiting and being part of this hop!

    1. Hello Meghan, thank you for being here and being part of this blog hop. Crafting has been a great way for me to focus my thoughts and energy as well. I am so glad you have found an outlet which has helped you. Stay creative!

    1. Thank you Catherine, I am so glad you enjoyed the project. Thank you for visiting and being part of this blog hop!

  17. The crafting community has enriched my life in so many ways, and I was touched and appreciative of the way so many bloggers have joined in to support this cause. PTSD is thought of as something that service men and women experience, but we know that it can affect anyone. I had a very good friend who was a police officer and whose family was affected by his PTSD over a period of years. The first step in healing is in realizing that it’s not your problem, but belongs to all of us. Thank you for your inspiration.

    1. thank you Karen for sharing your wonderful testimony. One of the best parts of this blog hop for me has been to take time to learn more about PTSD. There is so much I was not aware of and I am thankful to have learned through this project.

  18. What a stunning card!! And your big, bold sentiment is just amazing. Beautifully thought out and presented. Thank you so much for participating in this very meaningful blog hop.

  20. Wow!! Great visual- and your teaching method is really clear. Whoever does your photography is great!!

  21. The minute I saw your card I thought, I can do that! I can be like the freed butterfly. This hop has been touching my heart in a way it’s never been touched.

    1. Thank you Lee, it is so powerful to know we are all connected and share some of the same struggles and victories. And yes absolutely, YOU CAN also be FREE!

  22. Your creation touched my heart and made me pause and take a deep breath. Thank you…you made a difference.

    1. thank you Laura for your beautiful comment, it means the world to me for my work to reach out and evoke a positive feeling.

  23. Wow!! This is a gorgeous project, and I can’t think of a more perfect way to support anyone who has struggled.

  25. Your card is so precious! The sentiment along with the butterflies is such a powerful statement to free yourself of a traumatic experience! Thank you for sharing your beautiful card and awareness of PTSD!!

    1. Thank you Lori! I am glad you were able to get the message I intended with the butterfly. Thank you for vising and being part of this blog hop!

  26. I really couldn’t love this anymore, the whole project and the thought behind it is just perfect ❤️

  29. Thank you for the detailed instructions
    for making the card. The crackle background
    is stunning. The trapped butterfly that
    escapes if a wonderful image. thanks for
    sharing. txmlhl(at)yahoo(dot)com

  32. I admire your card greatly & think it perfectly portrays the meaning you want it to. The Craze stamp you used for the background reminds me of a rock filled with cracks. That in turn makes me think how a person thinks they are trapped within the rock hard feelings & memories they have. It is good to be reminded that rocks can develop cracks & let light in, just like a worm is trapped within the tight cocoon until it works its way out & becomes that beautiful butterfly. Thank you for participating in this most important blog hop.

    1. thank you Teri for your beautiful interpretation of the project. It is precisely that! I appreciate you visiting my page and sharing your comment!

  39. Great card with perfect symbolism for mental health issues. Thank you for sharing your beautiful art and your caring spirit.🐧

  42. The butterfly image is an important one to my sister. I think she would like it if I were able to re-create your design for her – thank you for sharing!

  43. Thank you for bringing awareness to more people. PTSD is an ‘invisible disability’ and touches all who surround the sufferer. Art has brought me to a place of peace in a world driven by my husband’s chronic severe PTSD which resulted from his service to his country fighting in Vietnam.

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